Traffic lane directional marker



Oct. 19, 1965 R. H. BYRD TRAFFIC LANE DIRECTIONAL MARKER 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Sept. 18. 1961 Roy H. Byrd I N VEN TOR.

Oct. 19, 1965 R. H. BYRD 3,212,415

TRAFFIC LANE DIRECTIONAL MARKER Filed Sept. 18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Ray H. Byrd 1N VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,212,415 TRAFFIC LANE DIRECTIONAL MARKER Ray H.Byrd, 2746 Parkridge Road, Shreveport, La. Filed Sept. 18, 1961, Ser.No. 138,682 6 Claims. (Cl. 94-15) This invention comprises a novel anduseful directional marker and constitutes a continuation-in-part of myprior copending applications Serial Nos. 738,190, filed May 27, 1958,for Highway Picket, now abandoned, and 3,360, filed January 19, 1960,for Highway Picket and Reflective Marker, now Patent No. 3,091,997,issued June 4, 1963.

It is frequently desirable to clearly mark or delineate certain sectionsor lanes of a highway and in such an unmistakable manner that it will bevirtually impossible for a motorist to inadvertently stray from thedesired lane or area. It is also frequently desirable to similarly markaircraft runways, vehicle parking areas and the like. However, no matterhow well marked, if the marking is accomplished solely by paint,reflectors or the like placed on the highway surface, the motorist may,if he so chooses, or through carelessness, disregard such markings withimpunity. If however, picket or marking devices are utilized which havea substantial vertical projection above the surface, so that themotorist must actually run into such picket if he disregards the warningof the same, it is much less likely that the motorist will eitherintentionally or inadvertently disregard such markers. It is therefore aprimary object of this invention to provide a directional marker forhighways, traffic lanes, parking areas and the like which shall includea substantial vertical projection above the road surface which, althoughit will not present a hazard to the vehicle, will nevertheless act as adeterrent for the motorist or others disregarding the marking.

It is a further and more important object of the invention to provide adirectional marker which may be supported upon and will project above aroadway to provide a clear marking and warning of a trafiic lane or adirection for traffic movement which will be inescapably evident to themotorist or other persons.

A further object of the invention is to provide a directional marker inaccordance with the foregoing objects which shall be of a suitablematerial and character such that even though struck by a vehicle therewill result no damage or danger to the vehicle or its occupants andsubstantially no damage to the marker itself.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a directionalmarker in accordance with the foregoing objects which shall provide avariety of different anchor means for attaching the marker to theroadway or other surface and a variety of markers which may bedetachably secured to the anchor means.

Yet another purpose of the invention is to provide a directional markerconstruction which may incorporate therein a base permanently anchoredto a roadway or other surface together with a removably mountedresilient marker element secured thereto.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the invention in useand illustrating the manner in which the marking devices may be utilizedto designate or delineate various zones or lanes within a highway orother surface;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical section, parts being broken away, andbeing taken substantially on the plane indicated by the section line 2-20f FIGURE 1 and ilice lustrating details of the base and top sections ofthe marking device;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and partially brokenaway, and illustrating further details of the assembly and showing moreclearly the manner in which the top section is removably secured orlocked to the permanently anchored base section thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a further detail view in horizontal section takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE2 and illustrating the anchor ing means utilized to permanently securethe base section into the pavement or other surface;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section similar to that ofFIGURE 2 but illustrating a modified form of construction of the basesection with parts being broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a detail view in horizontal section taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 66 of FIGURE 5 and with portionsthereof being broken away and illustrating further details of the baseconstruction shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a view in vertical section with parts broken away of a stillfurther modified form of the invention and particularly of the basesection thereof;

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 88 of FIGURE 7 and illustratingfurther details of the modified form of base shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a further modifiedform of the standard and base sections of the invention, with partsbeing broken away;

FIGURE 10 is a view in vertical section of the assembled standard andbase of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 of still anotherform of the invention; 7

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of the arrangement of FIGURE 11, partsbeing broken away;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary view in vertical central section takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 1313 ofFIGURE 12 and showing further details of the standard and base sectionsof this form of the invention;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of yet another form of directionalmarker in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 1515 of FIGURE 14 and showingcertain details of the manner in which the standard is secured to thebase of the device;

FIGURE 16 is an exploded perspective view of the form of standard shownin FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 17 is a perspective view showing another form of directionalmarker similar to that of FIGURE 14 but with a different base structure;

FIGURE 18 is a detail view in vertical transverse section takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 18-18 ofFIGURE 17 and showing the details of the standard and base and theconnection of these two sections to each other but with the anchor spikeomitted and the base secured to the roadbed as by an adhesive; and

FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of a modified standard element of thisform of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention shownin FIGURES 14 inclusive, the invention will be seen to consistsubstantially of a base sec tion indicated generally by the referencecharacter 10 and a top section indicated generally by the referencecharacter 11. The base section is in the form of a generally circularplate 12 having a curled peripheral edge or edges 13 havingdiametrically opposed interruptions or spaces 14 and 15 therein (seeFIGURES 1 and 3) whereby the lip 13 defines a pair of diametricallyopposed semi-circular pockets 16 and 17 substantially as shown.Projecting downwardly from the central portion of the plate 12 is ananchor post 18 which, as can be seen most clearly in FIGURE 4, ispreferably of non-circular cross section and preferably including theradially projecting splines or ribs 19, 20, 21 and 22 such as to firmlyaffix and anchor the plate 12 to the highway indicated by the referencecharacter 23.

In installing the base section of the marking device, a suitable hole 24is drilled in the highway as can be best illustrated in FIGURE 2 and thepost 18 is inserted thereinto after the hole 24 is filled with asuitable mastic compound 25, the mastic then being allowed to set andpermanently affix the base to the highway surface. The hole 24 may beconveniently made with a rock drill or the like.

The top section 11 includes a generally circular plate of a dimension tofit generally within the confines of the lip 13 on the base plate 12 andwhich is provided with diametrically opposed, radially outwardlyprojecting ears 31 and 32 respectively received in the pockets 16 and 17defined by the lip 13. The width of the ears 31 and 32 is such as to bereceived within the interruptions 14 and 15 of the lip 13 when the topsection is initially engaged with the base section whereafter rotationof the top section will effect a positioning of the cars 31 and 32 inthe manner substantially illustrated in FIGURE 3 whereby the top sectionis removably affixed to the base section substantially as is shown.

The top plate 30 is provided with a centrally disposed opening 35receiving the base portions 36 of the marker or picket indicatedgenerally by the reference character 37. The base portion 36 of thepicket is provided with a circumferentially extending groove 38receiving that portion of the top plate 31 surrounding the opening 35substantially as is illustrated in FIGURE 2 effecting a removableconnection between the markers 37 and the top plate 30.

It is preferred that the markers 37 be in the form of a verticallyelongate rod 40 made of suitable flexible and resilient material such asrubber or the like which can be best deflected as a vehicle passesthereover so as to cause no injury or deflection of the vehicle.However, due to the vertical height of the marker itself, the same willact effectively as a deterrent to a motorist passing over or strikingthe same.

It is preferred that the base portion 36 of the picket 37 extends belowthe undersurface 41 of the top plate 30 to such an extent as to engagethe top surface 42 of the base plate 12. That is to say, it is preferredthat the base portion 36 of the deformable picket constitute a spacerand necessarily be deformed between the surfaces 41 and 42 in order tointerengage the ears 31 and 32 into the pockets 16 and 17 therebyeffecting a tight locking action therebetween.

For the purpose of twisting or turning the top section with respect tothe base assembly, the plate 30 may be provided with circumferentiallyspaced slots 43 and 44 for receiving a suitable wrench.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6,the base section is indicated generally by the reference character 60whereas the top section is indicated generally by the referencecharacter 61. The base includes a concavo-convex plate 62 peripherallyengaging, as at 63, with the highway construction or pavement 64 andprovided on its upper surface 65 with a pair of diametrically opposedsemi-circular flanges 66 and 67 having outwardly projecting overlyingrims or edges 68 and 69 substantially as is shown. Centrally disposed ofthe base plate 62 and depending therefrom is the anchor post 70.

The top section 61 consists of a plate 71 of concavoconvex configurationperipherally engaging as at 72 with the highway surface and provided onits under surface with a pair of interrupted flanges 73 and 74complemental to the flanges 66 and 67 of the base section and includinginwardly projecting rims or edges 77 and 78 interdigitated with theflanges 66 and 67 substantially as is illustrated best in FIGURE 5.

Centrally disposed on the top plate 71 is an opening 79 receiving thebase 80 of the picket or marker 81. The base of the picket is providedwith a circumferentially extending recess 82 receiving the marginalportion of the top plate 71 defining the opening 79 therein and servingto effect a removable attachment between the marker or picket and thetop plate 71. Similar to the construction illustrated in FIGURES 1-4inclusive, the base 80 of the picket is preferably of such dimension asto be deformed by interengagement of the two plates 62 and 71 so as toeffect a locking action therebetween.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIG'URES 7 and 8,the device will be seen to consist substantially of the base section andthe top section 91. The base section includes a plate 92 having thediametrically opposed, semi-circular interrupted flanges 93 and 94integral therewith or rigidly aflixed thereto with the interruption 95and 96 therebetween of such width as to receive the radially projectingears 97 and 98 rigid with the top plate 99 so as to permit the initialinterengagement between the two sections substantially as is shown. Thetop plate 99, as is the case in FIG- URES l4 as well as FIGURES 5 and 6,is provided with circumferentially spaced slots 100 and 101 to receive asuitable wrench. In FIGURES 7 and 8, in addition to the anchor post 103,the base plate 92 may be provided in its radially extending projectingmarginal edge 104 with suitable openings circumferentially spacedtherearound as to receive additional anchoring pins 105, 106, 107 and108, substantially as is shown to further effect the anchoring orsubstantially permanent aflixing of the base section to the highway 108.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 9, the basesection, indicated generally by the reference character 130, includes anannular rim portion 131 provided with a series of apertures receivingtherein anchoring pins 132, 133, 134 and 135 which pins effect the soleanchoring of the base section 130 to the highway or other surface. Onthe inner margin of the rim 131 there is provided a concavo-convexupwardly projecting flange interrupted as indicated by the referencecharacters 141 and 142 in diametrically opposed portions thereof. Thetop section indicated generally by the reference character 143 includes,in its plate portion 144, a marginal edge 145 of concave-convexconfiguration and provided with the cut-out portions 146 and 147 definedby the downwardly struck ear portions 148 which are projectable throughthe interruptions 141 and 142 so as to engage under the portion 140 ofthe base section 131 and thus effect a removable attachment between thetop section 143 and the bottom section 130.

The embodiments of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 18 correspondand are identical with the embodiments shown in FIGURES 1-8 of my priorcopending application Serial No. 3,360 while the embodiment of FIGURES 9and 10 is identical with that disclosed in FIGURE ll of said copendingapplication.

FIGURES 11-19 describe and relate to further embodiments of thisinvention which are specifically designed for use as directionalmarkers, and preferably are relatively low in height so that they maypass beneath a motor vehicle and will flex without damage to themselvesor the vehicle if struck by some portion of the vehicle passingthereover. These forms of the invention are intended specifically toconstitute markers for designating the outlines of lanes of travel, orindicating directions in which trafiic is to proceed.

Considering first the embodiment of FIGURES 11-13 it will be observedthat this embodiment consists of a flexible upstanding post or standard150 which is secured as by a base 152 to a surface 154 of a roadway orother surface for indicating a lane or direction of travel as at 156.Referring specifically to FIGURE 12 it will be observed that this formof the standard 150 is generally triangular in cross section having theradially extending ribs 158 extending from the tip to the base thereof,and with the standard tapering from its tip to its base as suggested inFIGURE 13. The standard 150 is of rubber or other similar resilientelastic material and has a diametrically enlarged annular base portion160 provided with a peripheral downwardly extending flange 162 as shownin FIGURE 13. In order to reduce the material, lighten the weight andincrease the flexi bility of the standard, there is provided one or morehollow passages 164 therein.

The base structure 152 includes an annular plate 166 provided with adepending anchor means 168 by means of which the same may be embedded oranchored firmly in the surface 154. A peripheral upstanding flanged wall170 rises from the plate 166 and tubular upstanding internally threadedbosses 172 are likewise formed upon the surface of the plate 166 withinthe confines of the flanged rim 170.

In assembling the device, the flanged lower portion 160 of the standardis disposed upon the plate 166 within the rim 170 thereof and aretaining ring 174 having an annular flange 176 at its top and having adepending conical skirt 178 is secured as by fastening screws 180 to thebase plate 166. It will be observed that the flange 174 is notched orcutaway to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the triangularstandard 150 so as to snugly embrace the lower end of the latter and bymeans of the fastening screws will securely clamp the enlarged annularportion 160 of the standard to the plate 166.

Both the exterior surface of the flange 170 of the plate 166 and theinterior surface of the flange 178 of the retaining ring 174 are ofcomplementary conical configurations so as to facilitate a tight-fittingjoint therebetween thus excluding Water from the interior of theconnection.

In this manner, the standard may be readily applied to or removed frompermanently anchored base sections of the device as may be desired aswhen temporary use only of the directional markers are required, orwhere directional markers of other configuration are to be installed.

Referring next to the embodiment of FIGURES 14- 16, it will be observedthat there is disclosed a directional marker consisting of a standardsection 200 and a base section 202. The base section includes an anchorportion indicated generally by the numeral 204 which as shown in FIGURE16 consists of a depending standard or anchor spike 206 adapted to bepermanently anchored in the :roadbed or other supporting surface in anyof the manners previously described. The anchor section includes anannular plate 208 having an upstanding conical flange or rim 210thereabout Within which are formed a plurality of internally threadedupstanding tubular bosses 212. Cooperating with the anchor section andconstituting the rest of the base section is a retaining means in theform of split sections 214 and 216, each of which has a dependingconical flange 218 complementary to the flange 210 and frictionallyengaging the same. Apertures 220 are formed in these sections to receivefasteners 222 by which the split retaining sections are secured to theanchor section.

The standard 200 may be of various desired configurations, in thisinstance consisting of an upwardly projecting arrow section 224 and anangularly disposed arrow section 226 to thus designate alternativebranching lanes of travel. The standard is of rubber or other suitablematerial having an annular base portion in the form of a flange 228.

The flanged portion of the standard is apertured as at 230 to receivethe previously mentioned fasteners 222.

The cross-sectional configuration of the standard may be of any desiredshape, and it will be understood and observed that the base sections arenotched as at 232 to correspond to this shape. As illustrated thestandard is diamond shaped in cross section as will be seen from FIGURE15.

In this form of the invention it will be understood that the anchorsections are permanently embedded in the surface and the standardsections are removably secured thereto.

A slightly modified construction from that shown in FIGURE 14 isillustrated in FIGURES 17-19. In this form of the invention the standardindicated generally by the numeral 250 has an arrow shaped tip 252 atits extremity for indicating the direction to be pursued by vehicles.This standard is likewise of diamond shaped configuration in crosssection and at its lower end, as shown in FIGURE 18, is provided with anannularly enlarged plate-like extremity 254 having a dependingperipheral flange 256 which latter is received within the upstandingperipheral flange 258 of the plate 260 which constitutes the baseportion of the anchor means of this embodiment. This anchor means may beidentical with that indicated by the numeral 204 in FIGURE 16, it beinglikewise provided with internally threaded tubular bosses 262 for thereception of the fasteners 264. However, in place of a sectionalretaining means there is provided as indicated at 264 a cup-shapedretainer consisting of a flat plate-like upper portion 270 having adownturned peripheral flange 272. The fasteners 264 extend throughapertures in the portion 270, through corresponding apertures in thebase portion 254 of the standard, and into the tubular bosses 262 tothus securely unite these three elements together. Since the standard250 is not bifurcated as was the standard 200, the retainer may beplaced upon or removed from the standard by passing the same over theflexible extremity of the standard. Consequently, the retainer 266 canbe a single member rather than requiring the split sections of thepreceding embodiment.

A slight variation of the curved arrow form of standard 250 of FIGURES'17, 18 is shown at 290 in FIGURE 19. This form of member is identicalwith that of FIGURES 17, 18 except that the standard 290 is a straightmarker having an arrow 292 thereon. The standards 290 and 250 areinterchangeable and therefore the same numerals designate the basemember.

It will be appreciated that the directional markers may take variousshapes in accordance with the directions to be given to the motorists.Moreover, the standards may be readily interchanged upon the variousbases in order to afford varying traflic directions. The standards mayhave various reflected indicia thereon so as to increase theirvisibility under varying weather and light conditions.

The directional markers are of relatively low height so that althoughthey will readily project above and be visible above the roadway, theycan be struck by and passed over by a vehicle without damage to eitherthe vehicle or the device.

Further, it is to be understood that the anchor portion 204 illustratedin FIGURE 16 can be constructed Without the standard 206 in which casethe anchor portion 204 may be bonded to the surface of a roadway. Stillfurther, an anchor portion similar to anchor portion 204 may be used onany of the markers 37, 150, 200, 250 and 290.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A roadbed marker consisting of a base, a standard and a retainerremovably secured upon said base and detachably connecting said standardthereto, said base including a member having an upper surface andfurther having a bottom surface adapted to lie upon and be disposedflush with a roadbed top surface, anchoring means connected to said basemember and being adapted to secure the latter fixedly to said roadbed,said retainer comprising a cover member consisting of an inverteddishshaped disk overlying said base member and having an openingtherethrough slidably receiving said standard, the lower end of saidstandard being laterally enlarged, engaged by and disposed and retainedbetween said members, fastening means carried by one of and engaging theother of said cover and base members and detachably securing saidmembers together and clampingly retaining said standard laterallyenlarged end between said members and upon said base member uppersurface, said base member upper surface having a plurality of upstandingtubular internally threaded bosses, said cover member and said standardlaterally enlarged lower end having bores of smaller diameter than butregistering with said bosses for reception of said fastening means, saidstandard laterally enlarged lower end being compressively clampedbetween the top of said bosses and said cover member.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base member has a peripheralupstanding wall surrounding and spaced outwardly from said bosses andextending upwardly above the latter, said standard laterally enlargedlower end having a peripheral depending wall received in said upstandingwall and engaging said top surface of said base member.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said cover member has a peripheraldepending wall embracing said upstanding wall and having a sealingengagement With the latter.

4. A roadbed marker consisting of a base, a standard and a retainerremovably secured upon said base and detachably connecting said standardthereto, said base including a member having an upper surface andfurther having a bottom surface adapted to lie upon and be disposedflush with a roadbed top surface, anchoring means connected to said basemember and being adapted to secure the latter fixedly to said roadbed,said retainer comprising a cover member consisting of an inverteddishshaped disk overlying said base member and having an openingtherethrough slidably receiving said standard, the lower end of saidstandard being laterally enlarged, engaged by and disposed and retainedbetween said mem bers, fastening means carried by one of and engagingthe other of said cover and base members and detachably securing saidmembers together and clampingly retaining said standard laterallyenlarged end between said members and upon said base member uppersurface, said invetted dish-shaped disk substantially completely coversthe top surface of said base member and has its periphery forming a sealpreventing the ingress of foreign matter to said standard laterallyenlarged end and the top surface of said base member, said cover andbase members having at their peripheral edges complementary detachablyengaging arcuately extending retaining flanges comprising said fasteningmeans.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said retaining flanges constitutethe peripheral edge of one of said members.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said retaining flanges comprisethe peripheral edges of both members and include an internal channelforming lip on said base member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,124,718 1/15Ferris 189-28 X 1,265,386 5/18 Richards 94--1.5 1,266,152 5/18 Poole18928 X 1,267,021 5/=18 Watts 94--1.5 1,337,947 4/20 OToole 94-1.51,362,352 12/20 Rasmussen 18928 1,822,916 9/31 Woods 94--1.5 2,073,9683/37 Krebs 941.5 X 2,121,961 6/38 Gill 941.5 2,161,896 6/39 Cutler94--1.5 X 2,229,075 1/41 Haggart 941.5 X 2,448,413 8/48 Borghesi 18928 X2,834,133 5/58 Carmack 94-1.5 X 3,086,430 4763 Emmel 941.5 X 3,091,9976/63 Byrd 94-15 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

1. A ROADBED MARKER CONSISTING OF A BASE, A STANDARD AND A RETAINERREMOVOABLY SECURED UPON SAID BASE AND DETECHABLY CONNECTING SID STANDARDTHERETO, SAID BASE INCLUDING A MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE ANDFURTHER HAVING A BOTTOM SURFACE ADAPTED TO LIE UPON AND BE DISPOSEDFLUSH WITH A ROADBED TOP SURFACE, ANCHORING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID BASEMEMBER AND BEING ADAPTED TO SECURE THE LATTER FIXEDLY TO SAID ROADBED,SAID RETAINER COMPRISING A COVER MEMBER CONSISTING OF AN INVERTEDDISHSHAPED DISK OVERLYING SAID BASE MEMBER AND HAVING AN OPENINGTHERETHROUGH SLIDABLY RECEIVING SAID STANDARD, THE LOWER END OF SAIDSTANDARD BEING LATERALLY ENLARGED, ENGAGED BY AND DISPOSED AND RETAINEDBETWEEN SAID MEMBERS, FASTENING MEANS CARRIED BY ONE OF AND ENGAGING THEOTHER OF SAID COVER AND BASE MEMBERS AND DETACHABLY SECURING SAIDMEMBERS TOGETHER AND CLAMPINGLY RETAINING SAID STANDARD LATERALLYENLARGED END BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS AND UPON SAID BASE MEMBER UPPERSURFACE, SAID BASE MEMBER UPPER SURFACE HAVING A PLURALITY OF UPSTANDINGTUBULAR INTERNALLY THREADED BOSSES, SAID COVER MEMBER AND SAID STANDARDLATERALLY ENLARGED LOWER END HAVING BORES OF SMALLER DIAMETER THAN BUTREGISTERING WITH SAID BOSSES FOR RECEPTION OF SAID FASTENING MEANS, SAIDSTANDARD LATERALLY ENLARGED LOWER END BEING COMPRESSIVELY CLAMPEDBETWEEN THE TOP OF SAID BOSSES AND SAID COVER MEMBER.